Red Arrows Bases

The birthplace of the Red Arrows. In 1965, the newly formed aerobatic team flew their first official display here on 6 May 1965, using seven Folland Gnat aircraft. Little Rissington was home to the Central Flying School and provided the perfect environment for the fledgling team to develop their early formations.

Shortly after formation, the team relocated to RAF Fairford for their debut display season, performing 65 shows in that first year alone. Fairford provided the operational facilities needed to support the team's intensive early programme.

RAF Kemble became the Red Arrows' main base for 17 years. During this era the team established many of the formations and manoeuvres that remain synonymous with the Red Arrows today. It was here that the iconic Diamond Nine formation was officially adopted in 1968, when the team expanded from seven to nine aircraft.

RAF Scampton became the Red Arrows' home for nearly four decades — the base most associated with the team in the public consciousness. Steeped in RAF history as the home of the famous 617 Squadron Dambusters, Scampton provided the space and facilities for the team to operate at an international level.

During the Scampton era: the Gnat was retired and the BAE Hawk T1 introduced (1979); the team completed their 1,000th display; the 1995–96 World Tour visited 52 countries; the 2012 London Olympics flypast reached a worldwide audience; and the 2016 Asia-Pacific tour reportedly reached over a billion people.

RAF Scampton closed to the Red Arrows in 2022 as the base was decommissioned, ending a remarkable chapter in British aviation history.

While RAF Scampton underwent infrastructure upgrades in the mid-1990s, the Red Arrows temporarily relocated to RAF College Cranwell — the RAF's prestigious officer training college. The move maintained operational continuity while works were completed at Scampton.

With RAF Scampton's closure, the Red Arrows relocated to RAF Waddington in late 2022. This modern, operational station provides upgraded infrastructure suited to the team's needs — including dedicated hangar space, engineering facilities for the Circus ground crew, and excellent strategic access for UK and overseas deployments.

The move was marked in 2024 by the addition of special 60th anniversary artwork to the team's jets, celebrating six decades of the Red Arrows and honouring the legacy of RAF Scampton. Waddington is also already familiar to the team — their formation transits frequently use it as a departure and return point, as seen in NOTAM data throughout the 2025 and 2026 seasons.